“I can’t see the stripes on the road,” I told Lynne as we drove down I-5 north of Oceanside, California. When the coastal fog rolls in on the section of highway between Oceanside and San Clemente, visibility drops to feet, not miles. I had my flashers on, but a car sped past me, barely missing my back bumper. We cautiously proceeded to the next exit to get off the freeway.

Just last week, a phenomenon called “super fog” caused a huge crash on I-55 near New Orleans. It involved 158 vehicles, resulting in a tanker fire and seven confirmed fatalities. More deaths were expected as the wreckage was cleared.

Speeding into a fog bank is high on the list of not smart things to do!

Spiritually, it is possible to find yourself in a fog bank. I’m in that place right now. The path ahead is suddenly not clear to me. Over the years, I’ve learned that God will occasionally roll in the fog if I am moving too fast. Like many of the drivers in Louisiana last week, I have a destination in mind and a time I want to get there by. But if I plow on ahead thinking I can stay on course, I will end up going off the road — or worse.

When the fog rolls in and the way ahead is not clear, I need to stop and get my spiritual bearings. Spoiler alert: There’s nothing wrong on God’s end, which means it is most likely me. I need to take time to prayerfully seek the Lord for His wisdom and direction.

God surrounds Himself in clouds.

“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud.’” (Exodus 19:9, ESV)

“On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain” (19:16), and God called Moses up to the mount to meet Him in the cloud.

God invites us to come to Him in the cloud, in the foggy circumstances of our lives. It was God’s intention for all the people to come close to Him in the cloud, but the people were afraid to do so.

“Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, ‘You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.’ Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.’ The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.” (Exodus 20:18-21)

Did you catch that? The people wanted nothing to do with entering the cloud. They told Moses they would obey whatever God told Moses, but they never did. Moses spent time in the cloud with God, and his countenance radiated the holiness of God (Exodus 34:29-35).

If you are finding yourself in the clouds, in the fog, and your way is not clear, press into it. Seek the presence of the One who Scriptures tells us, “Clouds and thick darkness are all around Him.” (Psalm 97:2)

God is calling you to press into His presence that you might, like Moses, be one who reflects the image of the One we love. If there are fog and clouds in your life and your path is shrouded in uncertainty, press in to seek His presence. Your path will be made clear, and your life will never be the same.

What say ye, Man of Valor?
Semper Fidelis!